GRi in Parliament 09 - 06 - 99
MP appeals for calm at Akim Oda
Accra (Greater Accra) 9th June ’99
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan on Tuesday swore in Mrs. Alice Boon, as member for Lambussie, and assured her of the support and encouragement of the House to enable her discharge her duties efficiently.
Mrs. Boon, a 37-year-old teacher, won the Lambussie seat on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a bye-election held on May 26, when the seat became vacant following the death of Mr Luke Koo, about two months ago.
Mr Justice Annan administered both the oath of allegiance and the oath of Parliament to Mrs. Boon, and on behalf of the House, congratulated her on her electoral victory.
Before the commencement of public business, the leadership of Parliament, including Dr Kwabena Adjei, the Majority Leader, Mrs. Gladys Asmah, the Deputy Minority Leader and Mrs. Comfort Owusu, the Deputy Majority Chief Whip, escorted Mrs. Boon, impeccably attired in white "kaba" and cloth, to the floor of the House to be sworn in.
After the brief ceremony, shouts of yeah, yeah, emanated from the Majority side while a sizeable group of Mrs. Boon's constituents, who had travelled from the constituency to grace the occasion, broke into spontaneous clapping, punctuated by shouts of "ehee edzo", from the public gallery.
In a statement, Dr Adjei said he was welcoming Mrs. Boon to the House with mixed feelings, explaining that the constituency had been forced to go into the bye-election "by the rules", at a time when the funeral of the late Mr Koo had not even been held.
He dispelled a perception that Mrs. Boon's candidature would create a dynasty since her husband, Mr Jacob Boon, was a former Member of Parliament and currently, the District Chief Executive for Jirapa/Lambussie.
Even in her pregnancy, Mrs. Boon demonstrated her gracefulness as a woman and leadership qualities as a politician, he said.
"We are, therefore, not surprised that she has joined us in Parliament, neither are we surprised that the Lambussie seat has been retained by the NDC".
"We want to show to the whole world that the electoral victory is the real beginning of the Rawlings era. Her coming here is an indication of the good things coming to the NDC" Dr Adjei told the House.
Dr Adjei, who is also Leader of the House, said the NDC believes in affirmative action to help bring women into the mainstream of Ghanaian politics and also to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the country.
It was therefore not proper, for Mrs. Boon's political opponents to use her pregnancy to campaign against her prior to the bye-election, adding that in spite of that, she won the election on merit.
GRi../
MP appeals for calm at Akim Oda
Accra (Greater Accra) 9th June ’99
Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, MP for Akim Oda, on Tuesday appealed for calm and restraint from both factions in the chieftaincy dispute which started after the installation of the new Omanhene of Akim Kotoku Traditional Area.
In a statement to the House, Mr Osafo-Maafo, who is a ranking member of the Minority, appealed to all citizens of the traditional area to contribute positively to peace by refraining from any act of violence, since peace and stability are essential ingredients for development.
He called on the Police and the Army to avoid any act, which could trigger off violence saying "we must all take inspiration from the peaceful manner the Asantes installed Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as Asantehene, recently".
Mr Osafo-Maafo told the House that at the installation of the Omanhene of the traditional area on May 31, this year, following the death and burial of the late Okoforbour Agyeman Attafua IV, violent clashes erupted between opposing factions resulting in seven people, including a policeman receiving injuries.
Most of the injured suffered from gun-shot-wounds.
He urged the District Security Council, (DISEC) the Police and the Army, on the ground, to ensure fairness and impartiality to both factions in the dispute.
"It is common knowledge that traditional issues are better resolved through discussions and negotiations rather than by force", Mr Osafo-Maafo said.
Members, who supported the statement, said there is the need for peace and tranquillity to prevail in the traditional area, saying it was only in such an atmosphere that development could take place.
Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, NPP-Akim Swedru, said it was not too late for the factional leaders in the dispute to sit down and resolve their differences amicably.
Alhaji Yakubu Malik Al-Hassan, NPP-Yendi, said it was the prayer of all Ghanaians that such disruptive and violent clashes would cease.
Since it is the constitutional mandate for the Police to ensure law and order when such conflicts erupt, "we as a nation should equip the Police adequately to enable them to play this traditional role effectively".
Mr Francis Kwame Nyarko, NPP-Kade, noted that in a space of about one year, the Akims have lost three paramount chiefs and said the installation of the Omanhene of Akim Kotoku should have been a source of happiness for the people, but regrettably, it had rather engendered violence.
He, therefore, called for peace during the forthcoming installation of the paramount chiefs of Akim Bosome and Akim Abuakwa traditional areas.
Mr Akuamoah Ofosu-Boateng, NDC-Lower West Akim, said the factions in the dispute should have taken a cue from "our brothers from Ashanti and resisted all acts of violence".
Mr Ofosu-Boateng, who is also a Minister of State at the President's Office, therefore, urged all parties concerned in the chieftaincy dispute to exercise restraint and create an atmosphere of peace in the area.
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